The Climate in both cultures was burdened with petty politics and conflicts among neighbors

1692- The Puritans had a strong belief in God.
To Puritans, the enemy was the devil, and those who participated in witchcraft were criminals.
1950- “The American way” was an ideal.
Communism was seen as a great evil.
Americans who advocated Communism were seen a treasonous.

1692- The Salemites knew that people in other towns had been convicted of witchcraft.
1950- Americans knew that some
Communist spies had been convicted.

1692- The church, especially Reverend
Hale, is the expert.
1950- The experts were those in the U.S. secret service.

Danforth’s courtroom procedures and
McCarthy’s techniques during the hearings were both marked by relentless questioning, presumption of the defendants’ guilt, acceptance of flimsy evidence, and stubborn insistence on the validity and power of the proceedings.

1692- In Salem, 19 people were hanged, several died in jail, and one was pressed to death.
Others spent time in prison and suffered the loss of property and prestige.
1950- The victims of the court proceedings lost prestige, sometimes lost their jobs, and sometimes even had to leave the country.